Cape Verde

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welshjon81

Original Poster:

631 posts

140 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Anyone ever been to Cape Verde around April time?

Looking for a family Easter break where the weather will be warm and don't fancy the Caribbean as been there a few times already.

Haven't really considered the place before, what are people's experiences of the place?

Thanks!

Edited by welshjon81 on Wednesday 18th January 14:39

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Not personally, but a bloke I knew through our dive club went there and was very positive about the island and the diving.

M.

The Leaper

4,937 posts

205 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Always very windy.

R

Uncle John

4,270 posts

190 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Went last summer, to Sal, the resorts are very nice and modern but outside of these it is poor Africa. Depends if you will be staying in the resort or are the more adventurous types really. There are things to do, just may not be as idyllic as you'd wish.

Weather wise it was perfect for me. In August it was 30 degrees every day, and yes there is a wind (wouldn't say very windy) and a fair amount of light cloud that scuds across, but this meant it was pleasant rather than unbearable. I guess it would be 35 plus without these.

Interestingly the evenings only drop a few degrees as the wind drops, so 26/27 at night.

It's known as the African Caribbean in terms of the climate.

Beaches sandy and golden, water warm.

Beware of the sea urchins in the shoreline, wear some form of shoe's, my daughter stood on some and it wasn't pleasant.

Also 6 hour flight, a bit on the long side for me, but depends what plane you are in....


Edited by Uncle John on Wednesday 18th January 15:15

fat80b

2,242 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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We went there Dec last year. A resort based place in Sal.

There is not a lot to go out & do / see. I think the best tourist attraction on the island was a church that looked like a former sheep hut.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g8...

That said, the weather was good, the hotel nice, and the drinks included. If you want a relaxed week or two near a beach and a selection of pools then it ticks all the boxes. If you want a more lively experience then it doesn't.

For us as a family resort place, it was pretty much spot on

Bob

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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I went to Boa Vista a couple of years back in May.

Weather was hot when it was sunny (mid to high 20's) but we had a few cloudy days and on those it was noticeably cooler

It's windy, but didn't blow a gale when I was there.

Swimming in the sea was a no-no - red flags everywhere and huge waves.

The island itself is (was) the most desolate island I've visited. We drove from the airport to the hotel (30-40mins) and didn't see another car. Once you've escaped the main (small) town there is literally nothing but desert-style wasteland.

Odd, but I strangely liked it. It was a little like Mars!

One thing we did notice was that after 2 weeks, we were desperate to leave the hotel; something we hadn't done since arrival because there was nowhere to go....
Someone compared it to a luxury prison compound hehe




pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Which island OP?

Boa Vista is like the surface of the moon. We stayed at the Riu Tourareg - it's just a ginormous purpose built camp in the middle of nowhere. 30 miles one way along the beach before you reach anything either way.

Boa Vista was lovely. The Touareg felt like a luxury prison camp.

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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We have been to Cape Verde twice and will be there again next month.
We stayed in Santa Maria Sal Island and found it just perfect.This time of the year (and April)the weather is just right and it won't be too busy.Quirky interesting town,lots of shops,bars and restaurants.Beautiful sandy beach,safe swimming,water sports,sailing and fishing trips.There is an old pier where the locals land and sell fish,fascinating.
Plenty of hotels and apartments to choose from.We have stayed at The Odjo D`Agua Hotel which has the best position in Santa Maria.
We did have a few small issues but that was over six years ago so I expect they have improved.
The other hotel we used was this one. https://www.capeverde.co.uk/hotel-morabeza

Everything about this place was just perfect,highly recommended.



This time we have booked a self catering penthouse apartment on Porto Antigo 2 which is just along the beach.Fancy buying fresh fish from those guys on the pier,evening beers in a surf shack and just being a beach bum.

There is absolutely nothing to do out of town,barren land.You can go for a quadbike safari though.Some of the new big all inclusive hotels are located miles away from towns.
The only other thing is its five hour direct flight with Thomson.

the prescotts

386 posts

192 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Been to 5 out of the 10 Islands and even bought a plot of land 10 years ago on Sao Vincente that we intend to build on at some stage as a Winter get away. The waves on Boa Vista can be great fun yet the sea can be so calm on parts of Sal. We tend to stay in local B&B's but have stopped in most of the Riu hotels on Sal and Boa Vista, you know what your going to get with a Riu, decent value for money. Each Island is very different and non have a great deal to do outside beside the usual quad/4x4 tour. It's Portuguese colonial so if you are looking at going a little off the beaten track a small amount of Portuguese would be helpful but in all our visits there over the past 10 years we have never once felt threatened. The locals totally get that the tourism Pound/Euro will be the currency of choice. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are massive, there are also some interesting dive sites. As for the temperature at Easter the lowest it gets to is about 25 in winter and the highest is the low 30's in summer so pretty consistent all year round. As everywhere, you pretty much get what you pay for. At £1500 each AI you are never going to get 5 star so when checking out Trip Adviser just remember that some peoples expectations far out weigh the reality of the situation. Weather should be fantastic and a Riu would be a safe bet if you keep your expectations reasonable.

welshjon81

Original Poster:

631 posts

140 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Thanks for the replies all, very helpful.

We are looking to go to the Sol Dunas Resort on Sal.

We are happy to just chill out and soak up a bit of sun so it sounds great for the Mrs and I. The only thing I am worrying about is my 8 year old boy.

He love's swimming and playing in the pool but I am a bit concerned that this could wear a bit thin after a week or so. Although there are kids clubs there too.

Anyone with experience on traveling there with kids?

The resort is close to Santa Maria so a few trips there could possibly break it up a bit?

I'm guessing there is available transport/taxis for the small journey?

Cheers!

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Sol Dunas Resort is just up the road from Santa Maria,taxi,bus service,right outside the hotel.Mind you if you're into walking it's not that far.There is a good beach path that runs all the way to Santa Maria with the odd cafe along the way.
As for your 8 year old? would you trust a two seater quad bike or jet ski? sea fishing trip? you will pass all that sort of stuff along that path,or just jump in the sea.The old pier at Santa Maria is fascinating,locals landing their catch,preparing and selling them.If the waves are up there is always a group of local lads who put on a surfing show.Just chill out on the beach and watch.
Also there is a turtle sanctuary about a mile up the coast.They have their own bus that stops at various hotels,check with yours? with a bit of luck you may be able to see those tiny turtles hatch out? they gave a talk and passed some of the little ones around.
I`m quite sure you will find plenty to keep you all amused,have a nice trip.

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Just a thought? Is there anyone (near Berks UK) stuck with a pile (10,000+) of Cape Verdean Escudo`s,If so I will pay cash for them.
You can only buy and sell CVE`s on the island,although Euros are accepted everywhere.All shops,bars and restaurants only deal in cash,no cards.
Trouble is the menus are in CVE`s and then you get the bill in Euros at a very poor rate.

Pickled

2,051 posts

142 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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We're (me, wife + 2 friends) off to Sol Dunas on Easter Sunday, a week without the kids for the wifes birthday - so if you see 4 sunburnt brits in football kits throwing the furniture in the pool, it won't be us laugh

welshjon81

Original Poster:

631 posts

140 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
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Well a bit of a turn around, we have just found out Mrs Welshjon is going to have another baby! So it's a cheeky week in Gran Canaria instead.

Thanks for all your replies though and we will definitely look into going there when mini-me two has grown a bit!!

Pickled

2,051 posts

142 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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Old Merc said:
We have stayed at The Odjo D`Agua Hotel which has the best position in Santa Maria.
Loved it around Porto Antonio

Thought I'd chuck in an update, got back yesterday after a week for the wife 50th, loved it, perfect weather all week.

Despite being in an AI resort, we went into Santa Maria for a few meals and drinks, and even had won a couple of Euros in the new casino on the side of the (yet to be finished) Hilton resort.










Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Glad you had a good time.

Bit off topic ?? Now that PH has changed its looks,why is it that various images are now just "little boxes" when I click them up pops "this site can not provide a secure connection". Then you get posts with full images,like mine.I`ve seen this on most of the other threads on PH.
Are you guys getting this? or is it just me and my old PC ?

Shnozz

27,422 posts

270 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Uncle John said:
Also 6 hour flight, a bit on the long side for me, but depends what plane you are in....
Where was this from and which airline out of interest?

Just having a quick look at flights and suggesting 9 hour with 1 stop at a cost of £1300 PP?

pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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9 hours to Cape Verde?

You can get to St Lucia in that time.

We flew with Thomson from Gatwick iirc.

Shnozz

27,422 posts

270 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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pidsy said:
9 hours to Cape Verde?

You can get to St Lucia in that time.

We flew with Thomson from Gatwick iirc.
This is what I am thinking! If its non-direct and a few hours layover I may as well go more exotic. I was thinking a cheap short haul flight week somewhere that looks a little like the Caribbean - but if its the same time to get to the Caribbean it kind of defeats the point.

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Shnozz said:
Uncle John said:
Also 6 hour flight, a bit on the long side for me, but depends what plane you are in....
Where was this from and which airline out of interest?

Just having a quick look at flights and suggesting 9 hour with 1 stop at a cost of £1300 PP?
Probably what your getting is a TAP flight via Lisbon,they go daily.

Thomson fly regularly to Sal from Gatwick in about 5.5hrs, and they have just introduced a Dreamliner on that route. Return with the usual "extras" like luggage (who goes on holiday without?) will cost around £350,but you do get a free in-flight meal though.